Top iOS Games & Apps in December: Super Mario Run Tops Downloads in the West, Falls Short on Revenues

We have updated our monthly iOS rankings to include an overview of the top apps by revenues and downloads, along with the top games. These estimates are provided by our partnership with app analytics specialist PrioriData. Find the full Top iOS Games and Apps by Revenues and Downloads here.

In December, Super Mario Run hit the market and proved a popular hit across both Europe and America in terms of downloads. However, it failed to top the revenue charts, with Supercell’s Clash Royale at #1 in both Europe and the US for the month. Netflix, meanwhile, retained its crown as the top revenue-generating app in both regions, while Tencent’s messaging offering QQ led the way in China.

US: Super Mario Run Stumbles in the Revenue Charts

The biggest story in the American mobile games market in December was the disparity between Super Mario Run’s install numbers and its revenues. Despite it taking the title of the most downloaded game in the region for the month, it could only force its way into the #7 position by revenues. Even with the benefits of Nintendo’s brand, exclusive access to Apple’s notify feature, and extensive in-store promotion, Super Mario Run ultimately could not overcome the limitations of its monetization model and charted behind games from Supercell, King, and Machine Zone.

In comparison to Nintendo’s trial-driven title, Niantic’s service-led Pokémon GO, which draws heavily on Nintendo IP, managed to chart above Super Mario Run at #6. The company’s decision to add generation two Pokémon to the game and to run two live events over the Christmas period helped it back up the revenue charts and showed the enduring value of services to the free-to-play model.

In the app-only charts, none of the top ten revenue-generating apps changed position from November to December. Netflix, Pandora, and HBO Now showed the continuing value of video and music subscription services by resolutely remaining in the top 10. The only new entry to the charts, cable subscription service app Showtime at #20, illustrated this point further.

More of interest in the US was what happened in the download charts. Facebook slid by one place as younger rivals like Instagram and Snapchat either held or increased their rank. Meanwhile, even newer social apps, such as group video chat app HouseParty, broke into the ranking for the first time. This provides some indication of the changing nature of the social networking market, particularly among younger “mobile native” users. Find the full ranking of iOS Games and Apps by Revenues and Downloads here.

Europe: A Social Christmas

The European mobile gaming market behaved in a broadly similar way to the American market. Super Mario Run topped the download numbers, but only reached #5 in revenues. Pokémon GO’s position remained relatively stable, while King, Supercell, and Machine Zone dominated the charts.

In the European app space though, there was an interesting decline in the performance of dating apps. Although Tinder retained its spot by revenues, Plenty of Fish, Zoosk, and Lovoo each dropped places in December. On the flip side, other social apps such as Skype, WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Viber all climbed or entered the top 20 revenue ranking. This suggests that European users were spending more money connecting with existing networks of friends and family, rather than trying to build new ones through dating. Lastly, there was enough room in the download charts for one festive app to break through. Elf Yourself was #9 most downloaded app in Europe in December, showing that users do still enjoy holiday-themed novelties from time to time.

China: Advantage NetEase?

December’s games ranking looks, at first glance, to be a win for Tencent over its major rival NetEase. The Supercell owner locked out seven of the slots in both the most downloaded and top revenue charts for the month, with NetEase only securing two of the most downloaded titles and five of the top grossing. However, NetEase’s revenue generation was arguably more effective than Tencent. While the latter locked out the top slot with King of Glory, NetEase games occupied second, third, fourth, and fifth slots in the ranking. This suggests that NetEase may be more effectively concentrating on better performing mobile games within its portfolio than its major rival.

In the app market, Chinese users showed their appetites are similar to European and American users. The top three slots go respectively to a messaging app (QQ), a video streaming service (腾讯视频), and a Snapchat-style photo filter app (Faceu激萌), suggesting that consumer needs across the world are not significantly different. If that’s the case, companies may wish to further investigate the success o f喜马拉雅FM. Jumping ten places to #10 in the ranking, the app’s audio-focused micro blogging pitch might prove a model worth experimenting with in podcast-heavy nations like the US.

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